Brandon, Manitoba is attracting an average of 1,400 immigrants a year but the influx could be affected by new federal immigration standards.
As of July 1, new federal requirements mean immigrants will have to pass an English proficiency test in order to qualify for Manitoba’s foreign worker nominee program.
Maple Leaf, a large meat packing plant and Brandon’s biggest employer, relies heavily on low-skilled immigrant workers. It is estimated that 70 per cent of its 2,100 workers do not have English as a first language.
Under the new rules, foreign workers will have to pass a level four English test within 18 months of arriving as a foreign temporary worker.
The 2011 census pegged Brandon's population at 52,000, an all-time high, representing 11 per cent growth from the previous census, much of it from immigration. That growth puts it on par with communities such as Calgary and Edmonton. Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba.
For a full report on Brandon, see the June issue of Western Investor.
